Despite taking Central Division crown from Red Wings, Blues realize they have a lot to prove

AP file photoThe Blues might not be able to score a lot against Detroit's Jimmy Howard, but they don't give up much.

ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Blues will raise the Central Division championship banner to the rafters at Scottrade Center next season.

But, in some ways, Blues coach Ken Hitchcock still is looking up at the Detroit Red Wings.

“We're certainly thinking that they're top dog,'' Hitchcock said. “We've proved one thing, that we can win the Central Division, but getting far in the playoffs and beating teams like that, that's the next telling tale.''

The Blues haven't won a playoff series since 2002, haven't won a postseason game since 2004 and failed to make the playoffs in five of the past six seasons before this year's big leap.

“I think right now both teams (St. Louis and Nashville) want a piece of what Chicago and Detroit have had for years,'' Hitchcock said. “We'd like to get in the mix with those guys. Until we beat them in a playoff series, I think both us and Nashville are still on the sidelines compared to those two teams.

“We feel like we're much stronger and deeper, and I think (Nashville) feels like they're strong and deeper, but neither one of us have had a piece of their pie yet."

The Red Wings were a “high-end'' team, coach Mike Babcock said, the last time they played the Blues, on Jan. 23. Four weeks later, the Red Wings led the Blues by five points in the Central Division.

Then Pavel Datsyuk had arthroscopic knee surgery, injuries began to mount, the Blues raced past the Red Wings, and as Babcock put it, “I don't know if we've been high-end since ... we've played lots of good games for what we had, but never been high-end like we were.''

St. Louis secured the Central title by going 12-4-3 in its past 19 games, during which time Detroit is 6-10-3.

The Red Wings' high-end status can only be regained with playoff success. But they would gain some satisfaction, as well as two huge points in their effort to secure the fourth playoff seed in the Western Conference, by beating the Blues on Wednesday.

The Red Wings have won the past three games between the teams, all in Detroit. The Blues won the first two meetings, at home.

The Red Wings, with 99 points, can reach the 100-point mark for the 12th consecutive season, extending their own NHL record.

St. Louis has allowed the fewest goals in the NHL (1.86 per game) and its goaltenders, Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak, have combined for 15 shutouts.

“We have to be patient,'' Red Wings defenseman Brad Stuart said. “We know they're going to be playing a strong defensive game, and if we're trying to constantly force things in the middle, plays that aren't there, they're going to counter and get their opportunities. We have to try to work them in their own zone and make them play in their own zone.''

The Blues don't score a lot (they were tied for 19th at 2.53 goals per game) and don't have any big stars. Their leading scorer, David Backes, was tied for 68th in the league with 54 points before Tuesday's games.

“They do it by committee, it's no one player carrying the load,'' Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard said. “Everyone chips in, so they're an extremely hard-working team, disciplined within their system. They roll four lines and all four lines have speed.''

Said Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg: “When you watch them play, they do all the little things right, keep it real simple. It's definitely a tough team to play against.''

The Blues said the same of the Red Wings.

“It doesn't matter if they've been struggling, they're a force every night when you have guys like they do,'' David Perron said.

The Blues sometimes lose their poise in physical games. They said they can learn from the Red Wings.

“There are nights when they seem to be on the worse end of the physical play and they don't really let it get to them,'' forward Andy MacDonald said. “You see them winning a lot of hockey games late in the third period.

“If we want to be a successful team, not only this year but in years to come, we have to learn to play like that."